“When wheat begins to stand up tall and straight, pull several plants, split the stems from the top to the base and look for the growing point. Before GS-30, it will be just above the roots; at GS-30, it will have moved about one-half inch up the stem.”

Farrer and fellow regional agronomist Ben Knox expect most wheat in the eastern and piedmont regions of the state to reach GS-30 sometime between March 1 and 5.

Carl Crozier of North Carolina State University says it isn’t advisable to apply nitrogen before wheat reaches GS-30, because new growth at that time would be susceptible to cold injury. On the other hand, he says, it is a mistake to wait until after jointing to put out nitrogen because of the potential for damage by application equipment.